Molecular cloning of the fur gene from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

In several bacterial species, iron availability in host tissues is coordinated with the expression of virulence determinants through the fur gene product. Initial experiments showed that a cloned Escherichia coli fur gene probe hybridized to Southern blots of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans strain JP2 (serotype b) chromosomal DNA. The A.

Identification of salivary proteins inhibiting herpes simplex virus 1 replication.

Salivary proteins play an important role in the maintenance of the oral ecology. Previous studies have indicated that human submandibular-sublingual and parotid salivas can selectively suppress the in vitro infectivity of herpes simplex virus 1. The purpose of this study was to identify the salivary components in human submandibular-sublingual saliva that modulate in vitro infectivity.

Isolation and partial characterization of the Campylobacter rectus cytotoxin.

Previously, we reported the antigranulocytic activity of Campylobacter rectus media supernatants containing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and a 104 kDa protein. Here, we monitored the release of protein and LPS through the growth cycle of C. rectus ATCC 33238 and identified the 104 kDa protein as the cytotoxin.

Sialochemistry: a diagnostic tool?

Saliva has proven to be a discriminating element in forensic arenas, an effective indicator of acute diseases of salivary glands, and a promising probe for drug monitoring. With the advent of sensitive immunochemical assays, the compositional profile of human salivary secretions has been expanded considerably. Thus, the establishment of a range of "normal values" for a variety of "intrinsic" and "extrinsic" salivary components represented the initial step to use saliva as a diagnostic tool of oral health status.

Characterization of an amylase-binding component of Streptococcus gordonii G9B.

The goal of the present study was to begin characterizing the amylase-binding component(s) on the surface of Streptococcus gordonii G9B. Alkali extracts but not phenol-water extracts of this bacterium inhibited 125I-amylase binding to S. gordonii G9B.